Computer Systems Analysts

Depending on the company and the need, computer systems analysts can be tasked with anything from analyzing a CRM (customer relationship management) system to leveraging existing IT assets to boost workplace productivity.

A skilled IT pro is worth his or her weight in gold, something that the right employer is only too happy to prove by offering a considerable salary and perks. But depending on trends in the IT industry, some IT skill sets are more in demand than others. Jobs Website Monster.com recently sent eWEEK some interesting data about those seeking jobs in the IT industry: Over the past 120 days, the highest volumes of job postings have appeared in California, Texas, New York, Washington, Virginia and Massachusetts. In addition, IT job-seekers have been hunting for IT jobs with skills specialization in C++, Java, J2SE, Python, UML, XML and Linux.??íFor those in the hunt for a new position, though, the most relevant part of Monster.com's data dump could be the IT occupations in greatest demand by employers. Those ranged from computer systems analysts to database administrators. Computer software engineers, including app developers, also proved a popular target. Rest assured, though, the following eight most-popular positions cover a broad range of skills and needswhich in turn could offer a bit of encouragement to anyone looking to climb the ladder in their IT careers.??í

Nicholas Kolakowski is a staff editor at eWEEK, covering Microsoft and other companies in the enterprise space, as well as evolving technology such as tablet PCs. His work has appeared in The Washington Post, Playboy, WebMD, AARP the Magazine, AutoWeek, Washington City Paper, Trader Monthly, and Private Air. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.